Duplex tracker-board for automatic musical instruments.



No. 884,366. 4 PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

M. CLARK. DUPLEX TRACKER BOARD FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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M. CLARK.

DUPLEX TRACKER BOARD FOR AUTOMATIC MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS.-

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DUPLEX TRACKER-BOARD FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Duplex Tracker-Boards for Automatic Musical Instruments or Players, of

" which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings forming a part thereof. 7 y

' The pur )ose of this invention is to provide a trac er board construction for automatic musical instruments or players by which such instruments may be adapted to employ controlling sheets having their per forations out according to different scales,

that is, spaced more or less widely from center to center of. the perforations.

It consists in the construction described and illustrated and indicated by the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fore-and-aft vertical section through a duplex tracker board and adjusting parts of an automatic musical instrument embodying my invention in one of its forms. Fig. 2 is a partly sectional plan view of the two tracker boards, section being made at the planes of the ducts in the two boards respectively. Fig. 3 is an edge view or front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified construction for the same pur ose. Fig. 5 is a section at the line 55 on ig. 4. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views similar to Fig. 4 showing each a different modification for the same general purpose. Fig. 13 is a detail front edge elevation of a portion of the form shown in Fig. 7.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the tracker board, 1, has the mouths of the ducts, a, spaced according, to a different scale from the tracker-board, 2. The first may be understood as indicating, for example,spacing of one-sixth of an inch,.-that 15, having the distance between centers of consecutive duct mouths one-sixth of an inch,-and duct-board No. 2 may be understood as having the duct-mouths spaced say one-tenth of an inch between centers.- In the two tracker-boards, at a distance back from the edge having the duct-mouths, the ducts, 3, areequally spaced and at' this point both duct-boards are provided with ports, '4, leading to the surface from the several ducts.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 14, 1907. Serial No. 357,318.

controller sheet.

Patented April 14, 1908.

E TSS li f? One of the duct-boards, preferably the longer one, 1, may be mounted fixed in position with respect to the supporting frame structure, and the other mounted behind it along the path of travel of the controlling sheet, 5, is mounted directly upon the first, with capacity for movement from position at which the ports of the two boards register, to a posi tion at which the ports of both boards are closed, each by contact with the other board. In order to insure such closing, the proximate and contacting faces of the two boards, for a distance each way from the ports, may be provided with'a felt strip, 6, which affords the I port-closing surface.

The tubes, 7, which lead to the pneumatic action (not represented) are connected, preferably, to the ducts of the fixed board, 1; and this board is provided with means for closing its duct-mouths when its ports, 4, are registered with the ports, 4, of the other board. Such registration occurs when the board, 2, is adjusted to protrude beyond the board, 1, so as to receive the contact of the Thef device for covering the duct-mouths may be'a lip, 8, pivoted by means of bracket ears, 8, at the ends of the tracker board, 1, and adapted to be swung down forward of said board to uncover the ducts and to be swung up over the edge of the board to cover them, the brackets being slotted at their pivotal connections, and a s ring belng provided at each end for holding -t e li snugly against the edge of the tracker boarr when the ii is in duet-closing position. The springs will fie adapted to yield to accommodate the movement of the lip in swinging off the edge of the board and around the lower corner to position where. it

over in position to close the duct-mouths of the board, 1. When the board 2, is retracted, the li 10, rocks over the edge of the board, 1, bac into position occupying the rabbet, 2 of the board, 2, and is withdrawn with said board, 2, down alongside of the board, 1, leaving the edge of the latter pro-. truded to receive the contact of the paper.

This construction requires the protrusion of the board, 2, for taking the contact of the paper by the'amount of the width of the lip, 10. The form first above described, in

which the lip for closing the duct-mouths'of the board, 1, is not automatically operated, does not require so much'greaterprotrusion of the board, 2, and may in some cases be ,preferred for that reason although it is not automatic.

In Figs. '7 and 13 there is shown a further modification in which the two tracker boards are both movable edgewise to brin one or the other at will into operative re ation with the perforated controller sheet, 5, said tracker boards being retained between guides, 41, on the end checks of the case,

and stopped by pins, 42, encountering such guides at'the limits of the adjustment of'the boards in each direction. For closing whichever board is out of service there is' rovided an angle bar, 43, mounted for roc 'ng overan axis lying in the plane of contact of the two boards with each other and parallel with their edges in such position that one face of the angle bar seats upon the edge of one tracker board when the other tracker board is protruded so as to.stand alongside the outer edge of the angle bar, said anglev bar being thus located precisely similarly with respect to the two tracker'boards and so that which ever board is rotruded to take the contact of the control er sheet will hold one of the lips of the angle bar in position closing the mouth of the ducts of the other board. The remote edge corners of the tracker bars are beveled and both wings of .the angle bar have at the outer edge a protruding beveled lip, 43*, which fits the beveled corner of the tracker board when the lip of the angle bar is situated on the latter for closing its ducts, and the cooperation of the inner edge of the tracker boar-d whichjs protruded with. the beveled lip, 43, ofthe angle bar when the tracker board is thus protruded to the limit operates to crowd the other wing of the angle bar down on to the edge of the tracker-board for securely closing the ducts of the latter, thus disipensing with any spring or other expedient 0 such nature 3 for that purpose.

;; 20, having the two sets of mouths, 20, 20

. corresponding in spacing register the apertures, 24, with the spaced according to different scales, the ducts from the mouths leading through ni les, 21 and 21 which are connected by t 1e exible tubes, 21, merging in the tube, 22, running to the pneumatic action. Both sets' of mouths, 20 and 20*, are thus at all times connected with the pneumatic action. For cutting off either set and leaving the other operative, Iprovide a tracker-mouth plate, 24, which seats on'the tracker duct ban-being of suitable 'width to cover both sets of mouths with a margin at each ,side. This cap has two sets ofapertures, 24% and 24", to the two. setsof duct mouths, 2O and 2 0 of the tracker duct bar. These two rows of apertures, 24 and 24, are spaced apart suchf distance that when the set, 24, for example, registers with the tracker duct mouths, 20 the other set, 24", is out of registration with the corresponding set of tracker duct mouths, 20 and when I the tracker mouth plate is moved laterall to mouths, 20 the duct mouths, 20", are closed byl an unperforated portion of the plate. T is plate is convenientlymounted for 'movement to register either set of its apertures with the corresponding set of tracker duct mouths, by means of bracket end ieces, 25,

25, extendingpastthe ends of t e tracker duct bar, 20, and pivoted thereto for rocking in the direction of travel of the controller sheet asufficient distance to shift the registration of its two sets of apertures as described. Stops, 26, 26, are-provided against which the bracketend pieces, 25, are stopped to limit the movement in each direction at the proper point for registration of theapertureswith the ducts, as described; and any convenient operating device may be provided for rocking the plate, as the rock shaft, 27, mounted on the tracker board and having lever arms, 28, 28, connected to the brack-v ets, 25, by short links, 29, insuring substantially' equal rocking movement at the two ends but preventing distortion of the device in operation. It will be understood, that the controller runs at all times upon the outer surface of the plate, '24, whose apertures become in effect the tracker mouths. It is immaterial which of the two elements, 20 or 24, which together constitute the complete tracker bar or board is the movable element.

' The wooden eguivalen't of the metal construction above escribed is shown in Fig. 9,

in which the tracker duct board, 24 has for connection with the tubes, 22, a single set of ducts, 21*, which are branched to two sets whose mouths, 20" and 20, at the up er edge are differently s aced to corresponc to the two sets of 'mout s, 24 and 24 of the duct board mouth piece, 24.

In the form shown in Fi 10, the tracker bar,20 has the two sets of .tracker mouths 20 and 20 difi'erently spaced as in the other forms,the ducts from the mouths of the closer spaced set, 20, diverging, and those from the wider spaced'set, 20, converging, so that at the back or inner edge of this tracker duct bar the ducts of two sets are equally spaced. The base or inner element, 24 of the tracker board of this form has .the single set of ducts,,21 to which tubes, 22, are connected, branched to two sets. of branches, 21 and21, for registration respectively with the equally s aced inner ends of the two sets of ducts lea ing from the differently spaced mouths, 20 and 20*, of the outer elements, 20*, but these two parallel sets of branched ducts are separated from each other a distance differing from the distance. apart of the two sets of ducts in the element, 24 so that the two elements being moved relatively the amount of this difference the registration between the ducts of the upper element-and the branched ducts of the lower element may be shifted to establish operative communication with either set of mouths, 20 or 20", at will.

In Fig. 11 the rear or inner element of the tracker board has only a single set of ducts which is adapted to be registered with the already described.

inner ends of either set of ducts leading from the mouths, 20 and 20 of the forward or outer element of the board, the registration being shifted by relative movementv of the two elements, as in the other forms.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the two tracker-boards, 1 and 2, are mounted fixedly in position at which the controlling sheet, 5, passes over and rests upon both edges in its travel, so that said sheet may cooperate with either one of said trackerboards which has its ducts open for connection with the pneumatic action. In these tracker-boards the ducts are spaced at their mouths according to different gages, as "al- The two boards, although mounted close together at their edges over which the controlling sheet travels, diverge from said. edges, and at a distance back from their said edges, several inches apart, each board is provided withfports, 4, leading from their proximate faces into the respective ducts, and. a duct-board, 16, is interposed between the two divergent trackerboards, making a third side of the triangular structure. The ducts, 16, in this duct board diverge from one edge toward the other, being at one side s aced for registration with the ports, 4, of t 1e shorter trackerboard, 2, and at the other edge spaced. for registration with the ports, 4, of the longer tracker-board 1. The tubes, 7, leading to the pneumatic action are connected to the ducts, 16", of the duct-board, 16, at any convenient point intermediate the two lateral edges of said duct-boards, and said board is movable longitudinally with res ect to the two tracker-boards a distance slig itly that end,

more than the diameter of the ports, 4, with which the mouths of the ducts, 16, are adapted to register. Said ducts, however, are so located in said board that they will not register at their opposite ends at the same time with the ports of the two tracker boards, but when said ducts register. at one edge with the ports, 4, of one tracker-board they are out of registration with the corres onding'ports of the other board, which are clbsed by the edge of the duct-board, 16. Either tracker-board may therefore brought into operative connection with the )neuinatic action by adjusting the ductboard, 16, one way or the other for registration of its ducts at one end or the other with the tracker board against which it bears at The duct-board, 16, is mounted and maintained in proper relation to the two tracker-brmrds by being retained between guide strips, 17, on said boards re pectively; and steps, 18, 18, at opposite ends limit its adjustment in one direction or the other for registration with one board or the other; and it may be moved by hand to either position, a suitable handle, 19, being provided for such purpose.

* In this invention to a traekerwhich consists of a metallic mouth-piece having nipples for attaching the flexible tubes leading to the pneumatic action. For applying this invention to a construction of this sort I pref? erably construct the metallic tracker, 20, with two differently spaced sets of ducts leading to two sets of nipples, 21" and 21 and back of or below such metallic tracker mouth-piece I mount in a fixed support pipe Ys, 40, the flex ble tubes, 22, being connected to the stems of the Ys and leading to the pneumatic action, and a flexible tube, 22", extending from one branch of each Y to a nipple, 21, of the longer tracker mouthpiece, a similar flexible tube, 22", extending Tom the other branch of the Yto the corresponding nipple, 21 of the other tracker mouth-piece. The metallic tracker, 20,

Fig. 12 there is shown the application of with its nipples, 21. and 21", is mounted by I means of bracket end pieces, 35, for rocking about a pivot some distance back of the face of the tracker over which the paper travels, and at opposite sides of the position at which either set of duct-mouths stand for coopera- I tion with the controlling sheet there are provided two fixed valves or covers, 30 and 31. When the tracker 20 is rocked to bring the longer set of duct-mouths into cooperative relation to the controllers, the other series is under the valve or cover, 31; and when. the shorter series is in position for coi'ipcratin'g with the controller the longer scries'is under the cover, 30, s? that only one of said series ofduct-mouths is open at. operative position at any time. The lever handle, 33, attadhed to the rock-shaft, 34, on which the metallic ISO &

tracker is mounted b means of its I s aced, the element in which the ducts are i Y P bracket-arms 35, serves to rock the tracker to one position or the other as desired.

1. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with. a traveling controller, a trackerdevice havin a plurality of sets of duct mouths different y spaced, the ducts of the closer spaced set being diverged from the mouths, and those of the wider spaced set being converged from the mouths; an element having' ducts and flexible tubes connected therew1th, the ducts in said element being adapted to register at one position with the said conver ed ducts and at another position withthe diverged ducts of the tracker, and means for relatively adjusting said element'and the tracker to effect either registration at'will'. I I

2. In an automatic musical instrument or pla' er, in combination with a travelin contro er, a tracker device consisting 0 two elements, one element having two sets of duct mouths and the other element having a single set of.ducts branched to two sets of duct; terminals corresponding to the ducts .from the two sets of duct mouths of the first element, said sets of duct mouths and duct terminals being relatively disposedon said two elements so that only one set of termirials can register at a time with the ducts from the corresponding set of mouths, and

-means for relative movement of said two elements to shift the registration at will from one set to the other. i

3. In an automatic'musical instrument or player, in combination with a pneumatic actlon a traveling controller, a tracker device having two sets of 'duct mouths differently spaced; ducts extending from said two sets to a plane at which they are equally contained being terminated at such plane; a secondelement of the/tracker havingducte' which terminate similarly spaced at the same plane, and adapted to be adjusted for registration of its ductmouths at will with the duct mouths of either set of ducts of the first element and a single set of tubes leading from the ducts of.said second element to the pneumatic action.

4. In an automatic musical instrument or player, in combination with a pneumatic action a travehngcontroller a tracker device comprising an outer or forward element hav-,-

ing at the edge on which the controller trav els two sets of duct 'mouths differently spaced, said ducts leading from said mouths t rough said element, and a second element having ducts extending therethrough constituting a single set at' one side, and connections therefrom at that side, to the pneumatic action, said ducts being branched toward the other side to form two, sets of terminals spaced respectively to corres ond'with the. spacing at the inner side of t e two sets of ducts of the outer tracker element, said two sets of terminals being separated from each other a distance different from that which separates the two sets of-ducts of the said outer element, said two elements of the tracker being relatively movable to register at will either set of ducts of one element with the corresponding set of the other'element.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of January,

MELVILLE' CLARK. In presence of EDWARD T. WRAY, CHAS. S. BURTON. 

